This is one of the best goddamn collections I’ve ever heard. Every single song on it is a wonderful example of contemporary American folk music. I played it again and again and again. “Blue Car” by Greg Brown and “Song for Fay” by Caroline Herring are both so fine, they will make your spine tingle. Larry Brown also sings on it, and that is cool and fun and kind of sad too.

And while you’re at it loosen up the purse strings for chrissake and buy the bonus CD.

Radioactive Curative Devices and Spas: “The Revigator itself was a ‘radioactive water crock.’ A jar made of radium-containing ore, it held several gallons of water, came with its own spigot, and had the following instructions on the side: ‘Fill jar every night. Drink freely . . . when thirsty and upon arising and retiring, average six or more glasses daily.’ The radon produced by the radium in the ore would dissolve overnight in the water. In effect, it served as a ‘perpetual health spring in the home.'”

Radium Cures: “Radium cures, which reached their pinnacle of popularity in the U.S. during the 1920’s, promised to remedy these diseases, restore youthful vigor, and revitalize an ailing sex life.”